TOO MANY WRITERS!!

[evanmcgill]

So, California Gurls by Katy Perry credits 6 songwriters: Max Martin, Calvin Broadus, Lukasz Gottwald, Katy Perry, Benjamin Levin & Bonnie McKee.

I've seen this before, but how do SIX people write a song? I'm sure Calvin Broadus (Snoop Dogg) wrote the rap part, but that still leaves 5 more. Co-writing it hard enough!

Any explanations on this "industry phenomenon?"

[mojobone]

It's a modern form of payola, in some cases. In Nashville they call it, "Change a word, get a third." Sometimes the writer(s) are willing to give up a third of the credit to the artist, just so they can get a cut; it can work out if the artist is big, cuz you'd rather have a third of something than half of nothing, right? In LA and New York, you hire a hit producer (or a production team like the Dust Brothers or Jam & Lewis) before the track's even written, he does the bed track then they bring in the artist and a rapper (if it's a rap thang the rapper's the artist and the singer jes' sings the hook) Now imagine you have a song that's written in sections and maybe there's a different production team for each section-that's how you can end up with six writers.

This sort of thing has been goin' on forever; as Chuck Berry wrote in his autobiography, "I don't recall Alan Freed bein' in the room when I wrote Johnny B. Goode.", yet he's still listed as a co-writer.

[evanmcgill]

WOW! That's amazing, but not surprising. I see Justin Bieber has credit on every track, which I can hardly believe.

Great info as always! I owe you dinner at the Ralley!

[evanmcgill]

Jay Sean - Do You Remember? credits Jay Sean, Jared Cotter, Frankie Storm, J. Skaller, R. Larow, S. Henriques, John Smith & J. Perkins all as writers! WOW!

[bassman]

I can chime in here because I've worked that way.

As mojo said sometimes you have two producers who write lots of backing tracks. The producers need a "topline writer"
ie. someone who is good at writing melody and lyrics. The producers hook up with someone who has a decent track record and he picks out a backing track that sounds like a hit. So now they're 3. However, the topline writer has a co-writer they feel comfortable with and persuade the producers to bring them in as it will give the track that extra something. Now there's 4. As it stands they already have an artist in mind and so the artist comes into the studio and contributes a couple of lines just to make sure the lyrics relates to their life and now there's 5 writers.
Let's say the record label is convinced they have a hit on their hands but feel the verse could be stronger and put a call in to one of their coke sniffing buddies who is happy to chip in. Needless to say this guy also have a co-writer who is keen to get his dirty hands on a bit of cash. Now there's 7 writers.
Imagine now instead of it being a solo artist you have a boy band with strong management. Now the pie gets divided even further and on and on it goes.

This example is a bit extreme but you get the drift.
I've also been in writing situations where 4-5 of us sat around an acoustic guitar. It can be done as some people are stronger at lyrics and others at melody etc.

[evanmcgill]

Great insight. Much appreciated!

[matto]

I can chime in here because I've worked that way.

As mojo said sometimes you have two producers who write lots of backing tracks. The producers need a "topline writer"
ie. someone who is good at writing melody and lyrics. The producers hook up with someone who has a decent track record and he picks out a backing track that sounds like a hit. So now they're 3. However, the topline writer has a co-writer they feel comfortable with and persuade the producers to bring them in as it will give the track that extra something. Now there's 4. As it stands they already have an artist in mind and so the artist comes into the studio and contributes a couple of lines just to make sure the lyrics relates to their life and now there's 5 writers.
Let's say the record label is convinced they have a hit on their hands but feel the verse could be stronger and put a call in to one of their coke sniffing buddies who is happy to chip in. Needless to say this guy also have a co-writer who is keen to get his dirty hands on a bit of cash. Now there's 7 writers.

Actually that's a great and not that extreme example and it's possible the guy/girl the label calls in is not a coke sniffer but a highly successful songwriter who helps polish the song and put the final touches on it.

Also in urban music songs are often written in the studio where the producer(s), artist and some musicians hang out together and everybody who makes a contribution to the song gets a credit. It's a bit more of a "party approach" where people are vibin together rather than the "dentist appointment" prevalent in Nashville.

Finally, there's situations where a couple of completely unknown writers have the basic song but no publisher or connections and are happy to allow some connected producers to do some very minor polishing changes to the song in exchange for a writer's credit, if they in turn can get the song cut by a big artist.

In general, I'd say the lesser known the writer, the more (s)he probably contributed to the song hehee...

[bassman]

Actually that's a great and not that extreme example and it's possible the guy/girl the label calls in is not a coke sniffer but a highly successful songwriter who helps polish the song and put the final touches on it.

O.k I admit I mentioned the coke sniffer for entertainment value............Tarantino kind of vibe.

[mojobone]

[jmather]

Very interesting post. You guys are awsome.

And btw I'm really enjoying Calif. Gurls, which I'm shocked to admit, as I'm not too into pop music. Been listening to it over and over... And it has NOTHING to do with the video